Machinists Union plans charity motorcycle event

Puppy Putt 9, an annual motorcycle fundraiser to benefit charity, has been scheduled for June 18.

The event will feature two groups of riders, one leaving from Sound Harley-Davidson, at 16212 Smokey Point Blvd. in Marysville, and the other from Northwest Harley-Davidson at 8000 Freedom Lane NE in Lacey.

The two groups will take part in a poker run that will wind up at the Machinists Union Hall, at 9125 15th Place S. in Seattle, for an afternoon of motorcycle-themed fun, food and music.

Machinists Union District Lodge 751 organizes the annual ride, which raises money for Guide Dogs of America. Last year, District 751 Machinists raised more than $276,000 for the California-based charity, which provides guide dogs for blind or vision-impaired people across North America.

Harley-Davidson dealerships around Puget Sound are major sponsors, but organizers stress that Puppy Putt is an “all breed” event, open to riders of all makes of motorcycles. Details can be found online at www.PuppyPutt.com.

Originally formed in 1935 to represent hourly workers at the Boeing Co., Machinists Union District Lodge 751 now represents more than 26,000 workers at 44 employers across Washington, Oregon and California. In 2010, District 751 volunteers gave nearly 6,200 hours of their time to community service projects, in addition to raising more than a quarter-million dollars for Guide Dogs of America, their charity of choice.